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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Charity makes bid to run prisons | Charity makes bid to run prisons |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A charity which campaigns for penal reform and works with offenders is bidding to run two new jails, the BBC has learned. | A charity which campaigns for penal reform and works with offenders is bidding to run two new jails, the BBC has learned. |
| Nacro is preparing a joint bid to operate prisons with a private security firm, a construction company and a drugs charity. | Nacro is preparing a joint bid to operate prisons with a private security firm, a construction company and a drugs charity. |
| The 600-bed prisons would be located in Merseyside and in south-east London. | The 600-bed prisons would be located in Merseyside and in south-east London. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Nacro's bid to build and operate the jails was unprecedented. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Nacro's bid to build and operate the jails was unprecedented. |
| Although voluntary groups already run courses in prisons, none has attempted to manage a prison before, our correspondent added. | Although voluntary groups already run courses in prisons, none has attempted to manage a prison before, our correspondent added. |
| Nacro's bid to run the two new prisons - Maghull and Belmarsh West - involves a partnership with a private firm, Group 4 Securicor, known as G4S. | Nacro's bid to run the two new prisons - Maghull and Belmarsh West - involves a partnership with a private firm, Group 4 Securicor, known as G4S. |
| The private sector has often faced criticism from penal reformers for its management of prisons. | The private sector has often faced criticism from penal reformers for its management of prisons. |
| Re-offending rate | Re-offending rate |
| The head of Nacro, Paul Cavadino, said although his organisation and G4S could be regarded as "odd bedfellows" it made sense to work together on the design, planning and regime of prisons. | The head of Nacro, Paul Cavadino, said although his organisation and G4S could be regarded as "odd bedfellows" it made sense to work together on the design, planning and regime of prisons. |
| "If we're both involved in working together on the design, planning and regime of a new prison, it increases the chances that regime will be one which helps to reduce re-offending by resettling prisoners effectively," he said. | "If we're both involved in working together on the design, planning and regime of a new prison, it increases the chances that regime will be one which helps to reduce re-offending by resettling prisoners effectively," he said. |
| A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said commercial discussions for the new prisons at Maghull and Belmarsh West began at the end of October but the department would not be able to discuss progress until contracts were awarded. | A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said commercial discussions for the new prisons at Maghull and Belmarsh West began at the end of October but the department would not be able to discuss progress until contracts were awarded. |
| "The National Offender Management Service does encourage the use of the voluntary sector in the provision of services for offenders," he added. | "The National Offender Management Service does encourage the use of the voluntary sector in the provision of services for offenders," he added. |
| "The background information document stated that bidders would be encouraged to enter into partnerships with the voluntary and community sectors during service delivery.â | "The background information document stated that bidders would be encouraged to enter into partnerships with the voluntary and community sectors during service delivery.â |
| Belmarsh West, to be built next door to Belmarsh high security prison in south-east London, and Maghull are due to be finished by 2010. | |
| Another consortium, also a mixture of the voluntary and private sectors, is preparing a separate bid. | Another consortium, also a mixture of the voluntary and private sectors, is preparing a separate bid. |
| Crime reduction charity Nacro was established in 1966. | |
| About 50% of its activity concerns the resettlement of offenders, 45% crime prevention and 5% criminal justice reform. | |
| It runs more than 70 projects inside prisons and in the community in England and Wales to help prisoners access accommodation, employment and benefits on release. | |
| Last week the organisation joined a coalition warning Justice Secretary Jack Straw that proposals to build three 2,500-bed Titan jails would "squander" public money and leave Britain the "prisons capital of Europe". | |
| Nacro said the plans would damage efforts to take criminals away from a life of crime and exacerbate mental health problems in jails. |